Talking-machine



J. M. NOEL.

TALKI NG MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.-2T. 1919.

1,372,975. Patented Mal-29,1921.

. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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TALKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 27, 1919.

1,372,975. Patented Mar. 29, 1921.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

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UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH M. NOEL, OF PORTAGE, PENNSYLVANIA.

TALKING-MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JosnrH M. Noun, a citizen of the United States,residin at Portage, in the county of Cambria and btate of Pennsylvania,have invented 'a new and useful Talking-Machine, of which the fol lowingis a specification.

My invention consists in certain new and useful improvements inphonographs of the type provided with rotary record tables.

The object which I have in view is the adaptation of the phonograph tothe playing of a plurality of records in succession one or more times.

For the accomplishment of the above named purpose, I have produced aphonograph characterized by a plurality of rotary record tables eachpower driven and arranged in relation .to single sound arm, sound boxand needle'or other record engaging member, means being provided wherebythe sound groove engaging member is brought in turn into engagement withthe sound groove of each record, the member} being automatically shiftedfrom one record to the other. Means are also provided for adjusting themechanism whereby the said member is caused to engage the sound grooveof a record at the beginning of the sound recording portion of eachgroove and is removed from engagement with said groove at the end of thesound record.

Means are also provided for automatically stopping the machine when thedesired operation has been completed.

Other novel features of construction and arrangement of parts willappear from the following description.

In the accompanying drawings which are however merely intended toillustrate a practical embodiment of the principles of my inventionwithout limiting the see e of the latter to the constructionshown, ig. 1is a plan view of a phonograph adapted for laying two records in.succession; Fig. 2 1s an elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is an enlargeddetail showing the brake trip; Fig. 4 is a detail in section showing thedriving mechanism carried by the tone arm; Fig. 5 is a fragmentaryelevation showing a section of the track and the driven wheel runningthereon; Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the track showing "the methodofgsetting wthe same to raise ort lower the: driven Specification ofLetters Patent.

Patented Mar. 29, 1921.

Application filed September 27, 1919. Serial No. 326,714.

wheel at the proper moment at the beginn ng or end of a record; Fig. 7is a similar view showing the wheel engaging the track, and Fig. 8 is aview similar to Fig. 7 showlng the phonograph adapted to play fourrecords in succession.

The following is a detailed description of the drawings.

10 represents the motor board of a phonograph upon the underside orbeneath which is the usual driving motor which rotates a plurality ofrecord tables 11. In Fi 1 two of such tables are shown while in ig. 8 Ishow four tables. It will be understood that any desired number ofrotary record tables may be provided. Said tables may be rotated inunison as bymeans of pulleys 12 and belt or belts 13, one of said tablesbeing driven in the usual manner by the motor.

14 is the tone arm of the machine upon the outer end of which the soundbox 15 is mounted in the usual manner to be swung in a vertical plane.The tone arm 14 swings in a horizontal plane in the usual manner so thatthe needle or other record engagin member, mounted on the sound box,will follow the sound grooves of the records. The tone arm is arrangedto swing freely in a complete circle, and the axes of the several recordtables are preferably at the same radial distance from the axis of thetone arm. A small pulley 16, suitably driven from the motor, as by meansof a vertically projecting shaft is preferably arranged beneath one ofthe tables and drives, as by means of a belt 17 a pulley 18 journaled onthe base'of the tone arm and provided with a friction disk 19 secured onits upper face. 20 is a vertically disposed friction wheel engaging theupper face of the disk 19, and mounted on the inner end of a shaft 21which is journaled in a substantially horizontal position, as, forinstance, in a hearing tube 22 which is pivoted at 22' to the sound box15. 23', is a spring secured to; the sound box and havin its free endbearing on the inner end of t e tube 22 to hold the wheel 20 inengagement with the (115k 19.

A loop 24' on the inner end of the tone eb fljsk 19. The nendwof said'shaftlex k tending axially from said'wheel forms a positioning pin 24whose function will be later described.

Arranged concentric to the axis of the tone arm and shaft, is a trackcomprising a section 25 and a section'26, although it is to beunderstood that any number of such sections may be employed. Thesetracks are formed of flanged sheet metal secured to the cabinet asindicated at 27, the opposite ends of the section 25 beingtelescopically adjustable, the same being slotted as shown at 28 toadjustably receive a track end 29 which may be held in an adjustedposition to vary the length of the track section by connecting means 30engaged through the slots and track ends 29, but which simply exertsenough friction or clamping action to hold the end in adjusted position,while permitting free adjustment thereof with the positioning pin orprojecting end of the shaft.

The roller 23 is provided with a projection or hump 31 on the peripherythereof adapted to insure rolling engagement of the wheel or roller 23with the track, the latter being prdvided with offset bracket 32 whichis secured to the track and which'is provided with a notched verticalextension 33. By placing the pin 24 in these notch extensions the trackscan be adjusted longitudinally until the needle or stylus is broughtabove the end convolutions of the respective records-whereupon thetracks canbe secured in place by the fastening means 30. Thus the trackswill be accurately positioned to be engaged by and to be released fromthe wheel 23 as it travels in a circle, so that the bump or projectionon the wheel will engage thevnear ends of the respective tracks and liftthe wheel onto the tracks successively as the needle or stylus arrivesat the inner ends of the grooves of the respective records. Accordlnglythe wheel will travel along the tracks on which it is deposited untilthe tone arm has been brought to position with its stylus or needledirectly above the outer convolutionsof one of the records whereupon thewheel will pass ofi of the track and cause the needle to, engage therecord thereunder.

' Thisis due to the fact that the track ends .29 may be accurateladjusted by first placing the records on t e turn tables and then movlngthe tone arm together with the tube and shaft mounted thereon, so thatthe positlonmg pm or projecting end of the shaft 21,

as designated at 24, .may belocated in the notch or recess, and therebypermit the extension ends of the track to be so positioned take thetrack and lift-the needle from the record at the 'time the recordplayingis completed, and

after traversing-the intervening. track, to drop the needle '11 on therecord succeeding the one just playe after having moved over thediametrically opposite side of the first named record out of contacttherewith. Of course the initial adjustment of the track is made tocause the disengagement of the needle at the proper time after themachine is started, and thus' of the track ends, by the initialadjustment as specified above, whereby the roller will engage the trackor disengage from the same at the proper time, both at the starting ofeach record and at the completion or finish of each record.

It will be understood that the relation of the reproducer and the end ofthe track and the positioning pin and the positioning notch is such thatwhen the positioning pin is placed in the positioning notch and theadjustable track is moved to position the reproducer over the finishingor blank grooves of the record, the track will be set to en age theroller and lift the reproducer out 0 contact with the record when therecord is finished. Means are also provided to bring the machine to astop automatically and consists of a brake rod 34 slidably mounted inthe bearings 35 upon the top of the cabinet, one end of the rodcooperating with the brake shoe 36 and the other end of the rod as shownin Figs. 1, 2, and 6 bearing against a catch 38 and adapted to bereleased from said catch by contact of the arm extension 22 with theupper end of the catch. An expansible coiled spring 39 is mounted on thebrake rod 34 between the bearing 35 and a collar 40 and when the catch38 is'engaged with the rod the shoe 36 is inoperative and the spring 39is compressed, ut upon the catch being released, the spring acts tocause shiftin of the brake rod whereby the shoe 36 is forced against theperipheral edge of the turn table to bring the latter to a stop when therecord is completed. The machine is then set with the brake in aninoperative position and by returning the tone arm in its initialposition the device may again be op- ,erated to play the records.

In the form of the invention employing four records which are indicatedat 41 all of the records being arranged concentric to the axis of thetone arm, said tone arm 42 is designed to cooperate with any one of theseries of records mounted on the turn tables. Each turn table isprovided with a pulle 43 and a belt 44 is'engaged around the pn leys todrive all of them simultaneously in the same direction, aS is also thecase of the pulleys. 12 heretofore explained. The track sections betweenthe turn tables correspond to the track section 25 heretofore explained,except that one of the track sections corresponds to the track' section26 in order to the catch 38, or if desired, said catch may be providedwith an upper end portion 45 which is pivoted by an elbow joint as shownat 4:6 and adapted to be swung downwardly to a horizontal position inorder to permit the tone arm to pass thereover and continue its swingingmovement. Thus the records can be played successively without inter'ruption except between the records. By turning said pivot member ,515 toa vertical position rigid with the catch, it will serve as an abutmentto release the catch and bring the machine to a stop.

It will thus be seen that when the device is once set, a plurality ofrecords can be played without requiring the attention of an attendant ornecessitating manual stopping of the machine after each record isplayed. The device is therefore specially desirable for dance music orotherwlse.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. Thecombination with a plurality of rotary record tables, a tone arm movablethereover and a sound box carried by the arm and capable of up and downmovement, of a series of tracks concentric with the axis of movement ofthe tone arm, each of said tracks being adjustable to different lengths,to conform with the distance between the inner convolutions of onerecord and the outer convolutions of the next adjoining record, andmeans movable with the tone arm for successively engaging and travelmgalong the tracks to support the sound with the axis of movement of thetone arms,

a power transmittin member movable with the tone arm, a whee carriedthereby, means revoluble with the wheel for enga ing the ends of thetracks when the soun box is brought to position above the inner endconvolution of a record, said tracks being proportioned to be disengagedby. the wheel when the sound box is brought to position above the outerconvolutions of a record, driving mechanism, and means operated by theelevation of the wheel onto a track for coupling the transmittingmechanism to the driving mechanism thereby to propel the drivingmechanism and the tone arm over the space between the innerconvolutionsof V J one record and the outer convolutions of the plurality of tracksconcentric with the axis of movement of the tone arm, means for adustingthe length of each track, means op- -erated by the power transmittingmechanism for engaging the ends of the tracks to lift said mechanismonto the track and sup port the tone arm out of contact with therecords, and driving mechanism, said trans mitting mechanism beingcoupled to the driving mechanism then positioned on a track to propelthe tone arm over the space between the inner convolutions of one recordand the outer convolutions of the next adjoining record.

1-. The combination with a plurality of revoluble record tables, a tonearm mounted to swing thereover, power transmitting mechanism'movablewith the tone arm and driving mechanism, of a track concentric with theaxis of movement of the tone arm,

and means coupled to the transmitting mechanism for engaging one end ofthe track to elevate said mechanism onto the track and propel it alonthe track thereby to lift the tone arm ant carry it over the spacebetween the inner convolutions of one record and the outer convolutionsof the next adjoining record.

5. The combination with a plurality of revoluble record tables, of atone arm mount ed to swin thereover, a track concentric with the axis ofmovement of the tone arm, means adjustably connected to the ends of thetrack for varying the length of the track, gage brackets carried by saidmeans a member connected to and movable with the tone arm, and, meanscarried by said member for engagin adjust the length 0 the track inproper proportion to the distance between the inner convolutions of onerecord and the outer convolutions of the next adjoining record.

6. The combination with rotatable record tables, a tone arm mounted toswing thereover, a sound box carried thereby, and a needle or stylusconnected to the sound box, of a member movable with the tone arm, atrack concentric with-the axis of movement of the tone arm, gagebrackets mounted upon the end portions of the tIflCk, Il1Gll'lS upon themember on the tone arm adapted to be seated in the respective brackets,and means for extending or shortening the track to move the engagedbracket toadjust the tone arm with the needle or stylus in either theouter or the inner convolutions of a record.

the gage brackets to 7. The combination with a plurality of revolublerecord tables, a tone arm mounted to swing thereover, and a sound boxcarried by the arm, of a track concentric with the axis of movement ofthe tone arm, a spring actuated brake shoe, a catch for holding the shoenorm-ally against movement and out of active position, a member movablewith the tone arm and onto and off of the track to In testimony that Iclaim the fore oing raise the tone arm, swing it from position as myown, I have hereto afiixed my slgna- 10 above one record to ositionabove another ture in the presence of two' witnesses.

record, said member eing movable. against 5 the catch after the soundbox has been moved JOSEPH NOEL from above the sound reproducing part of.Witnesses: one of the records, to release the brake shoe L. J. NOEL, tostop the rotation of the tables. ARTHUR J. NOEL.

